Born  January  1 
Died  September  t4i  1901 


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Milliam  nDclkinle^ 


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J.  B.  Lyon   Company 

State   Printers 

1902 


3oint  Committee  of  tbc  XcGislature 

Committee  ot  tbe  Senate 

ITimotbB  B.  BIl6wortb  Jobn  TRafnes 

^bomas  3F.  (BraDs 


Committee  of  tbe  Hssembl^ 

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proceebfnos  of  tbe  Xegislature 


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State  of  flew  l^orh 


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Xife  an&  Services 


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MilUam  flDclRfnle^ 


Iln  flDemorlam 


MilUam  riDclkinle^ 


Born  5anuar^  29,  1843 
DfeO  September  H,  1901 


iProceeMnge  of  tbe  XcGtelature 


In  Senate,  January  9,  1902 

|R»  ELLSWORTH,  Temporary  Presi- 
dent, offered  the  following  resolution: 

Resolved  (if  the  Assembly  concur), 
That  a  joint  committee  of  the  Legislature  be 
appointed,  to  consist  of  three  Senators,  to  be 
appointed  by  the  President  of  the  Senate,  and 
five  members  of  the  Assembly,  to  be  appointed 
by  the  Speaker  of  the  Assembly,  to  arrange 
for  and  conduct  suitable  memorial  exercises  by 
which  the  Legislature  may  express  its  apprecia- 
tion of  the  statesmanship  and  virtues  of  William 
McKinley,  late  President  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  who  was  assassinated  at  the  city  of 
Buffalo,  in  this  State,  in  the  month  of  September 
last ;  its  abhorrence  of  the  crime  and  its  sympathy 
for  his  bereaved  family. 

The  President  put  the  question  whether  the 
Senate  would  agree  to  said  resolution,  and  it 
was  decided  in  the  affirmative. 

U 


•ffn  nDemortam 

Ordered,  That  the  Clerk  deliver  said  reso- 
lution to  the  Assembly  and  request  their 
concurrence    therein. 

The  Assembly  subsequently  returned  the 
concurrent  resolution  with  a  message  that 

Mr*  Speaker  put  the  question  whether  the 
House  would  agree  to  said  resolution,  and  it 
was  determined  in  the  affirmative* 

Ordered,  That  the  Clerk  return  said  resolution 
to  the  Senate,  with  a  message  that  the  Assembly 
have  concurred  in  the  passage  of  the  same. 

The  President  appointed  as  the  committee 
on  the  part  of  the  Senate  to  act  with  the  com- 
mittee on  the  part  of  the  Assembly  to  arrange 
memorial  exercises  in  appreciation  of  the  states- 
manship and  virtues  of  William  McKinley, 
Messrs.  Ellsworth,  Raines   and   Grady. 

Mr.  Speaker  appointed  as  such  committee, 
on  the  part  of  the  Assembly,  Messrs.  AUds, 
Kelsey,  Bedell,  Palmer  and  McKeown. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  above  joint  committee 
it  was  decided  to  hold  a  memorial  service  in  the 
Assembly  Chamber  on  Tuesday  evening,  March 
4,  1902,  and  that  Hon.  Charles  Emory  Smith  be 
invited  by  the  committee  to  deliver  the  memorial 
address^ 

12 


Milliam  flDcl^tnlei? 

In  Senate,  January  29,  1902 

Mn  Green  made  the  following  motion: 
Mr»  President:  To-day  is  the  birthday  of 
the  late  lamented  President  of  the  United  States, 
William  McKinley,  a  day  set  aside  in  many 
places  for  the  closing  of  the  schools  and  doing 
honor  and  paying  homage  to  the  memory  of 
one  of  the  greatest  if  not  indeed  the  greatest 
statesman  of  his  age*  It  occurs  to  me  that  it 
is  highly  proper  that  the  Senate  of  the  State 
of  New  York  should  take  some  action  in 
commemoration  of  the  day  and  in  memory  of 
William  McKinley,  and  therefore  I  move  that 
this  Senate  do  now  adjourn  out  of  respect  to 
the  memory  of  William  McKinley  and  in  com- 
memoration of  his  birthday* 

Senator  Grady:  If  the  Senator  will  with- 
draw his  motion  for  a  moment  and  allow  me 
to  say,  and  in  saying  it  I  endeavor  to  express 
what  I  know  to  be  the  sentiments  of  my  asso- 
ciates upon  this  side  of  the  chamber,  that  there 
is  no  mark  of  admiration,  there  is  no  token  of 
respect  that  can  be  paid  to  the  memory  and  to 
the  service  of  William  McKinley  which  we  are 
not  prepared  to  sincerely  and  cheerfully  accord. 
When   one   sacrifices   his   life   for   his   country, 

13 


fln  nDemoriam 

when  one  is  stricken  down  by  the  hand  of  an 
assassin  because  he  is  the  representative  of 
authority  against  which  anarchy  and  red-handed 
socialism  raises  its  hand^  he  leaves  the  rank  of 
official  and  statesman,  and  even  patriot,  and  takes 
his  place  among  the  heroes.  And  so  we  regard 
the  dead  President,  not  so  much  as  one  who  in 
a  long  and  varied  public  career  won  the  affections 
and  confidence  and  the  respect  of  his  political 
friends  and  the  admiration  of  his  political  foes, 
not  so  much  for  the  qualities  of  statesmanship 
that  he  exhibited,  but  in  common  with  all  the 
rest  —  those  of  us  who  differed  as  to  his  policy, 
perhaps  arrayed  ourselves  in  opposition  to  his 
methods  of  government  —  to-day  we  turn  our 
eyes  to  his  place  in  the  gallery  of  heroes  as  one 
who  sacrificed  his  life  in  vindication  of  the  law 
and  the  majesty  of  the  law,  and  upon  each 
anniversary  of  his  birth,  and  very  much  oftener, 
let  us  hope,  a  grateful  people  of  this  Nation  will 
remember  every  service  of  William  McKinley 
and  hold  him,  as  they  do  nov/,  without  regard 
to  political  affiliation,  in  their  heart  of  hearts* 
The  President:  The  question  is  on  the 
adoption  of  the  motion  of  the  Senator  from  the 
Thirty-eighth,  that  the  Senate  do  now  adjourn 

J4 


Milliam  nDclktnle^ 

out  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  the  late 
President^  William  McKinley.  Those  in  favor 
of  the  adoption  of  that  motion  will  please  rise. 
It  is  unanimously  adopted.  The  Senate  is 
now  adjourned  until  to-morrow  morning  at 
eleven   o^cIock. 


In  Assembly,  January  29,  1902 

Mr.  Aflds  offered  for  the  consideration  of 
the  House  a  resolution,  in  the  words  following: 

Resolved,  That  the  House  do  now  adjourn 
as  a  testimonial  of  our  respect  and  esteem  to  the 
memory  of  the  late  President,  William  McKinley, 
who  was  born  fifty-nine  years  ago  to-day. 

Mr.  AUds  said :  Fifty-nine  years  ago,  on  this 
day,  occurred  an  event  which  at  that  time  was 
unnoticed.  It  marked  the  commencement  of  a 
life  which  has  occupied  the  central  part  of  the 
national  stage  during  these  last  years.  I  regard 
that  it  was  extremely  fitting,  Mr.  Speaker,  that 
this  Legislature  should  last  week  have  made 
suitable  arrangements  which  look  toward  a  com- 
memorative service  over  the  memory  of  William 
McKinley.  Therefore,  Mr.  Speaker,  I  do  not 
regard  that  at  this  time  I  ought  to  give  utterance 

J5 


In  nocmoriam 

to  words  which  naturally  would  be  fit  to  this 
occasion.  But  it  seemed,  Mr.  Speaker,  inasmuch 
as  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the 
State  of  New  York  there  are  gathered  in  every 
schoolhouse  our  school  children,  to-day,  engaged 
in  exercises  which  remind  them  of  the  services 
rendered  by  our  late  lamented  President ;  inasmuch 
as  throughout  the  United  States  the  day  of  his 
birth  is  to-day  being  commemorated,  and  that 
the  Governor  has  issued  a  proclamation  in  this 
State,  I  did  not  regard  that  it  would  be  fitting 
that  we  should  close  the  morning's  session  with- 
out being  mindful  of  the  fact  that  this  day  did 
mark  the  birthday  of  William  McKinley,  and 
that  when  we  separated  this  morning  it  should 
be  by  a  rising  vote  of  adjournment  as  a  testi- 
monial of  our  respect  and  of  our  remembrance  for 
that  man  who,  starting  from  the  common  people, 
rose  step  by  step,  until,  when,  unfortunately, 
within  this  state,  his  life  went  out,  he  was 
beyond  any  question  the  best  beloved  citizen  of 
this  entire  country,  no  matter  what  one's  politics 
might  be,  no  matter  where  one  might  live  or 
dwell,  for  he  was  of  the  common  people,  a  man 
throughout  his  entire  career  laboring  for  the 
common  people,  and  when  he  did  finally  reach 

16 


Mtlltam  flDclkinleip 

the  Presidential  chair,  a  true  American  laboring 
for  Americans,  in  such  a  way  that  he  commanded 
the  respect  and  compelled  the  respect  for  this 
country  from  all  sister  nations,  the  world  around. 
Mr.  Palmer  said:  Mr.  Speaker,  a  person 
who  by  an  assassin^s  bullet  has  compassed  the 
taking  of  an  American  life,  whether  he  be  a 
private  citizen  or  a  public  personage,  aims  a 
blow  not  only  at  the  heart  of  an  individual 
citizen,  but  aims  a  deadly  blow  as  well  at  the 
heart  of  our  common  and  beloved  country. 
And,  sir,  there  comes  a  time  in  the  history 
of  nations  and  the  history  of  men  when  the 
invisible  line  which  seems  to  divide  us  —  we 
call  it  sometimes  politics  and  political  thought  — 
when  that  invisible  line  is  entirely  wiped  out; 
and  when  an  American  citizen  who  loves  his 
country  and  who  loves  its  institutions,  will 
rally  to  the  support  of  its  principles  and  to 
the  support  of  those  men  who  maintain  those 
principles.  And  when  a  man  dare  stand  out 
and  direct  a  bullet  at  the  head  of  our  common 
country,  it  brings  us  all  together  as  common 
mourners  around  a  common  bier.  This  is 
where  we  stood  a  few  months  ago.  This  is 
where  we   stand   to-day  again,  in  memory,  and 

17 


II  n  nDcmortam 

this  is  where  we  will  stand  so  long  as  any 
incident  shall  occur  during  our  memory  and  the 
memory  of  those  who  shall  follow  us,  that  shall 
bring  us  back  to  a  time  when  the  President  of 
the  United  States,  William  McKinley,  was  shot 
dead  at  Buffalo  by  the  hand  of  an  assassin* 
I  say,  then,  that  this  is  a  question  that  appeals 
to  the  bosom  of  Americans;  this  is  a  question 
that  appeals  to  our  manhood;  this  is  a  question 
which  appeals  to  our  love,  our  sympathy;  this 
is  a  question  which  not  only  enters  the  individual 
breast  but  appeals  to  the  fireside  and  home 
of  every  one  about  this  circle,  and  when 
we  appeal  to  the  home  we  appeal  to  the 
strength  of  our  American  institutions  to-day. 
True,  it  has  been  said  that  this  man  represents 
every  citizen  of  our  common  country.  He  came 
through  the  walks  known  as  the  common  walks 
of  life;  when  danger  was  threatened  he,  in 
connection  with  others,  stood  at  the  battle  front 
and  bared  his  breast  to  danger,  that  our  flag 
might  still  float  and  that  our  institutions  might 
live;  and  after  the  test  and  when  history  was 
being  written,  history  that  we  fondly  love,  this 
man  emerged  from  the  conflict  and  was  chosen 
by  a   majority   of   the   American  people,  whose 

J8 


Milliam  riDclkinlc^ 

homes,  whose  property  interests  he  had  so  nobly 
protected  upon  the  field  of  battle,  and  by  choice 
was  elected  to  be  the  chief  officer  of  this  country, 
which  he  had  helped  to  save,  and  in  this 
dignified  position  looking  all  along  back  through 
the  pathway  over  which  he  had  trod,  and  seeing 
friends  and  neighbors  all  along  that  pathway, 
an  assassin,  a  man  who  has  no  property  stake 
in  this  country,  a  proletarian  with  no  interest  in 
common  with  ours,  aimed  a  bullet  not  only  at 
the  heart  of  this  distinguished  citizen,  but  at  the 
heart  of  our  common  country,  and  assaulted  our 
institutions;  and  to-day  as  I^islators  we  are 
looking  all  over  the  land  as  best  we  can  to 
exterminate  that  element  from  our  midst.  This 
representative  who  went  down  to  death  at  the 
hands  of  our  enemies,  we  should  commemorate 
on  every  occasion  that  is  befitting  for  such 
commemoration.  I,  therefore,  Mr.  Speaker, 
voicing  my  own  sentiment,  and  I  know  I 
voice  the  sentiment  of  the  minority  around 
this  circle,  will  second  the  resolution  which  has 
been  offered. 

Mr.  Speaker:  Gentlemen,  you  have  heard 
the  motion  which  has  been  so  eloquently  made 
by    the     gentleman     from     Chenango,    and     so 

19 


flu  nDcinoriam 

emphatically  endorsed  by  the  gentleman  from 
Schoharie^  that  now,  as  an  evidence  of  the 
respect  and  esteem  in  which  we  hold  the 
memory  of  the  late  lamented  President,  that 
this  body  do  now  adjourn,  and  that  the  vote 
upon  tliat  motion  be  taken  by  a  rising  vote. 

Mr.  Speaker  put  the  question  whether  the 
House  would  agree  to  said  resolution,  and  it 
was  determined  in  the  affirmative  by  a  rising 
vote. 

Whereupon  the  House  adjourned. 


5ijF> 


20 


flDemorial  lEiercises 


I 


Assembly  Chamber,  March  4,  1902 

HE  Legislature  having  met  in  joint 
WhY^tgj^A  session  in  the  Assembly  Chamber  in 
SSggi^  pursuance  of  the  arrangements  made 
by  the  joint  memorial  committee^  Benjamin  B» 
Odell,  ]t*f  Governor,  Hon.  Thomas  C.  Piatt 
and  Hon.  Qiauncey  M.  Depew,  United  States 
Senators,  and  State  officers  and  guests  being 
present,  the  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  the 
Hon.  Timothy  E.  Eflsworth,  chairman  of  the 
joint  committee. 

The  quartet  and  chorus  of  All  Saints  Choir 
sang  *^  Blest  Are  the  Departed/^  from  Spohr's 
''The  Last  Judgment.'' 


LEST  are  the  departed  who  in  the  Lord  are  sleeping, 
from  henceforth,  forever  more : 


B 

They  rest  from  their  labors,  and  their  works  follow  them. 


Prayer  was   offered   by   Rt.   Rev.   William 
Croswell   Doane,  Bishop  of  Albany,  as  follows: 

21 


II  n  flDemoriam 

prater  b^  "Kt.  "Rev.  laillfam  Croswcll  Doanc 
Almighty  and  ever-living  God,  we  yield 
unto  Thee  most  high  praise  and  hearty  thanks 
for  the  wonderful  grace  and  virtue  declared  in 
all  Thy  saints  who  have  been  the  choice  vessels 
of  Thy  grace  and  the  lights  of  the  world  in 
their  several  generations.  We  bless  Thy  name 
for  the  good  memory  and  holy  example  of  Thy 
servant  William  McKinley,  to  whom  Thou 
didst  give  grace  to  live  well  and  to  rule  well 
over  this  people,  and  grace  to  die  in  Thy  faith 
and  fear  and  in  Thy  favor.  Make  us  patient 
before  the  mystery  of  his  violent  death.  Pardon 
whatever  evil  in  us  may  have  wrought  out  the 
humiliation  of  its  dishonor.  Save  us  from  the 
spirit  of  disorder  and  misrule ;  from  the  careless- 
ness of  the  tongue  in  eyil  speaking,  reviling  and 
slandering.  Convict  us  of  the  sins  of  our  pros- 
perity, our  pride,  our  boastfulness,  our  forgetful- 
ness  of  Thee.  Protect  us  from  the  spread  of 
license  instead  of  liberty.  Convert  us  to  a  deeper 
recognition  of  Thy  authority  in  those  who  rule 
over  us  that  we  may  ^^  faithfully  and  obediently 
honor  them  in  Thee  and  for  Thee ;  ^*  and  make 
them  mindful  whose  authority  they  bear.  Make 
light   perpetual  to   shine   upon  the  soul  of   Thy 

22 


Milliam  fiDclkinlci? 

servant  whom  Thou  didst  call  so  suddenly 
to  his  rest.  Comfort  the  sorrow  of  those  who 
were  so  sorely  stricken  in  the  bereavement 
of  his  death.  Guide  with  Thy  counsel  and 
govern  by  Thy  grace  Thy  servant  Theodore 
Roosevelt,  so  suddenly  called  to  the  responsi- 
bility of  ruling.  Make  this  great  nation  a 
wise  and  understanding  people,  that  we  may 
fear  Thee  and  keep  all  Thy  commandments 
always,  that  it  may  be  well  with  us  and 
with  our  children  forever,  through  Jesus  Christ 
Our  Lord.      Amen! 

The    hymn,    ^^Lead,    Kindly    Light,^^    was 
sung  by  the  choir  of  All  Saints  Church. 

TEAD,  kindly  Light,  amid   the   encircling  gloom, 

J— ^  Lead  Thou  me  on ! 

The  night  is  dark,  and  I  am  far  from  home. 

Lead  Thou  me  on ! 
Keep  Thou  my  feet !   I  do  not  ask  to  see 
The  distant  scene;  one  step  enough  for  me. 

I  Tvas  not  ever  thus,  nor  prayed  that  Thou 

Shouldst  lead  me  on; 
I  loved  to  choose  and  see  my  path;   but  now 

Lead  Thou  me  on ! 
I  loved  the  garish  day;   and,  spite  of  fears. 
Pride  ruled  my  will:  remember  not  past  years. 

23 


•fln  nDctnoiiam 

So  long  Thy  power  has  blest  me,  sure  it  still 

Will  lead  me  on 
O'er  moor  and  fen,  o'er  crag  and  torrent,  till 

The  night  is  gone ; 
And  \vith  the  morn  those  angel  faces  smile, 
Which  I  have  loved  long  since,  and  lost  a-while. 

Senator  Ellsworth  said :  Pursuant  to  a  joint 
resolution  of  the  Senate  and  Assembly,  the 
members  of  the  Senate  and  Assembly  and  their 
invited  guests  have  convened  in  this  Chamber 
to  take  suitable  action  in  memory  of  the  states- 
manship and  virtues  of  William  McKinley,  late 
President  of  these  United  States,  and  on  behalf 
of  the  committee  I  present  as  your  presiding 
officer  Governor  Benjamin  B.  Odell,  Jr. 


9rae 


24 


Milliam  flDclktnle^ 

TRcmarhe  of  tbe  presiDfng  ©fficet 
Governor  OdeD,  upon  taking  the  chair^  said : 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen: 

We  meet  to-night  to  pay  our  tribute  of 
respect  to  the  memory  of  a  man  who  in  his 
life  illustrated  the  possibilities  of  American  man- 
hood, to  one  who  has  by  his  devotion  upon 
the  field  of  battle  and  in  the  halls  of  our 
National  Legislature,  as  well  as  in  the  highest 
office  within  the  gift  of  our  people,  won  the 
respect  and  admiration  of  the  world.  The 
patriotic  manner  in  which  he  met  every  question 
and  every  new  responsibility  that  he  was  called 
upon  to  assume,  marked  him  as  a  man  of  fear- 
less character,  whose  devotion  to  his  country 
was  only  measured  by  her  needs.  Springing, 
as  is  so  often  the  case,  from  humble  parentage, 
struggling  with  the  vicissitudes  and  hardships  of 
life,  with  indomitable  courage  he  carved  out  for 
himself  a  name  that  will  be  long  remembered 
and  inscribed  upon  the  tablets  of  fame  with 
other  great  Americans   who  had   preceded   him» 

Meeting  his  fate  because  in  his  person  he 
typified  the  institutions  which  our  forefathers  had 
established,  he  passed  from  the  active  theater  of 

25 


II  n  nDcmortam 

life  with  a  faith  and  a  fortitude  which  illustrated 
far  better  than  words  his  belief  in  an  Omnipotent 
Power.  Dying,  his  deeds  still  live,  and  the 
evolution  of  government  which  has  marked  the 
successive  generations  of  men  still  goes  on  and 
our  country  becomes  stronger  because  of  such 
lives  and  of  such  influences  as  characterized 
that  of  William  McKinley.  For  the  love  of 
freedom  and  the  ability  to  organize  liberty  into 
institutions  is  a  feature  which  makes  of  America, 
of  our  country,  a  stable  government  that  can 
withstand  the  shock  of  arms  and  the  blows  of 
anarchy,  America  and  her  institutions  are  a 
protest  against  all  those  who  have  and  who  do 
oppose  freedom,  and  the  patriotism  of  her  youth 
is  the  guarantee  of  her  future.  While,  therefore, 
we  mourn  our  loss,  death  has  not  robbed  us  of 
the  influences  which  those  who  have  labored 
for  our  country  have  left  behind  them  as  the 
heritage  to  our  people. 

We  are  fortunate  to  have  with  us  one  whose 
privilege  it  was  to  have  been  associated  with 
our  martyred  President  during  his  lifetime,  who 
has  kindly  consented  to  address  you,  and  because 
of  his  old  associations  within  our  State,  to  speak 
for  us  as   we  lay  upon   the   bier   the   flower   of 

26 


ramiam  riDclkinlep 

grateful  recollection  for  one  who  is  now  but  a 
memory,  I  take  great  pleasure  in  introducing 
to  you  the  Hon.  Qiarles  Emory  Smith,  the 
orator  of  the  evening. 

The  Hon.  Charles  Emory  Smith  then  deliv- 
ered the  memorial  address. 

The  choir  then  sang  **  The  Radiant  Mom/' 
by  Woodward. 

THE  radiant  morn  hath  passed  away. 
And  spent  too  soon  her  golden  store; 
The  shado'ws  of  departing  day 
Creep  on  once  more. 

Our  life  is  but  a  fading  da'wnt 

Its  glorious  noon,  how  quickly  past; 

Lead  us,  O  Christ,  our  life-work  done. 
Safe  home  at  last. 

Where  saints  are  clothed  in  spotless  white. 
And  evening  shadow^s  never  fall. 

Where  Thou,  eternal  Light  of  Light, 
Art  Lord  of  all. 

After  which  Rt.  Rev.  T.  M.  A.  Burke, 
Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  Albany,  pronounced  the 
following  benediction: 


27 


flu  nDcmoriam 

pravec  b\>  TRt.  TRev.  ^.  /IB.  H.  asurftc 

O  Almighty  and  Eternal  God,  Thou  hast 
taught  us  by  the  Royal  Psalmist  ^^  Unless  the 
Lord  build  the  house,  they  labor  in  vain  that 
build  it.  Unless  the  Lord  keep  the  city,  he 
watcheth  in  vain  that  keepeth  it/^  Hence  we 
acknowledge  that  it  is  only  by  Thy  blessing 
that  individuals  and  nations  can  prosper  and  be 
happy.  We  beseech  Thee,  therefore,  O  Lord, 
to  bless  our  Nation,  to  bless  our  State,  and  in 
a  special  manner  to  bless  all  who  have  taken 
part  this  evening  in  these  solemn  services  in 
honor  of  our  late  lamented  President. 

May  the  blessing  of  God  the  Father,  the 
Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost  descend  upon  all  of 
us  here  present  and  remain  with  us  forever. 
Amen. 


28 


Milltam  nDclkinlei? 

Recessional:   ''Nearer,  My  God,  to  Thee," 
by  the  choir. 

■R  TEARER,  my  God,  to  Thee, 
L  N    Nearer  to  Thee, 
E'en  though  it  be  a  cross. 

That  raiseth  me ; 
Still  all  my  song  shall  be, 
Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee, 

Nearer  to  Thee. 

Though  like  a  wanderer, 

Weary  and  lone, 
Darkness  comes  over  me, 

My  rest  a  stone ; 
Yet  in  my  dreams  I'd  be 
Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee, 

Nearer  to  Thee. 

There  let  my  way  appear 

Steps  unto  heaven ; 
All  that  Thou  sendest  me 

In  mercy  given ; 
Angels  to  beckon  me 
Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee, 

Nearer  to  Thee. 

Then  with  my  waking  thoughts 

Bright  with  Thy  praise. 
Out  of  my  stony  griefs 

Altars  I'll  raise ; 
So  by  my  w^oes  to  be 
Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee, 

Nearer  to  Thee. 

29 


In  riDemoriain 

Or  if  on  joyful  wing, 

Cleaving  the  sky, 

Sun,  moon,  and  stars  forgot. 
Upward  I  fly. 

Still  all  my  song  shall  be 

Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee, 
Nearer  to  Thee. 


3^ 


30 


flDemorfal  Hbbtess 
(Tbarles   lEmor^  Smftb 


®n  ITnvitation   of  tbe  Governor  ant)  tbe 
Xegislature   of  tbe   State   of  IRew  l^orFi 


Uuesbai?  ^Evening,  /iDarcb  4,  X902 


MtUiam  mclkinle? 


"As  long  as  he  lived  he  was  the  guiding  star  of 
a  whole  brave  nation,  and  when  he  died  the  little 
children   cried   in   the   streets." 

)0  wrote  Motley  of  William,  the  great 
Prince  of  Orange,  who  enlarged  a 
Republic  and  fell  under  the  hand  of 
an  assassin.  So  may  we  speak  of  the  dead 
President  who  by  a  cruel  fate  was  slain  within 
the  borders  of  your  State  and  whose  memory 
you  are  assembled  to  honor.  Thrice  has  our 
country  been  called  to  mourn  a  murdered  Pres- 
ident. The  hot  passions  engendered  by  civil 
strife  impelled  the  first  blow.  The  aberration 
of  a  disturbed  brain,  distorted  by  a  perverted 
view  of  partisan  contention,  struck  the  second. 
The  third  came  in  an  hour  of  profound  calm, 
at  a  time  of  universal  good  feeling,  and  it  was 
aimed  not  in  any  disordered  frenzy  at  the 
gentle  individual,  but  with  cool  and  stealthy 
design  from  the  lair  of  lurking  anarchy  at  the 
head  of  the  State.    The  first  two  left  a  helpless 

33 


In  fIDemoriam 

sorrow;  the  third  leaves  a  relentless  duty* 
The  grace  of  President  McKinley's  life  and  the 
vicariousness  of  his  sacrifice  for  the  Republic 
added  to  the  poignancy  of  the  public  grief, 

^*As  long  as  he  lived  he  was  the  guiding 
star  of  a  whole  brave  nation,  and  when  he 
died  the  little  children  cried  in  the  streets/^ 

Heritage  molds  character  and  character 
shapes  opportunity»  The  preparation  of  William 
McKinley  for  his  great  work  began  long  before 
he  was  bom.  It  began  with  a  sturdy  and 
rugged  ancestry,  imbued  with  high  principle 
and  with  patriotic  impulse.  He  blended  the 
thrift  and  force  and  enthusiasm  of  the  Scotch- 
Irish  blood  with  the  strength  of  the  Puritan 
character.  For  more  than  a  century  the  robust 
union  had  been  tempered  with  the  uplifting 
influence  of  our  free  institutions  and  with  the 
glorious  air  of  American  liberty,  and  an  original 
stock  of  unsurpassed  quality  was  developed  into 
the  full  flower  of  purest  Americanism,  On 
both  sides  his  ancestors  fought  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary War,  as  he  fought  in  the  War  for 
the  Union,  and  frugal  lives,  sound  intelligence 
and    sterling   citizenship   distinguished    the   race 

through   successive  generations, 

34 


MiUtam  nDclkinlei? 

Both  of  his  parents,  neither  high-born  nor 
low-born,  but  well  representing  the  plain  people, 
were  of  superior  quality.  In  the  benignity  of 
the  maternal  love  he  was  signally  blessed  like 
Washington,  whose  mother,  when  the  whole 
world  rang  with  his  fame,  could  proudly  and 
modestly  answer  the  paeans  of  praise  with  the 
simple  words,  '*he  has  been  a  good  son  and 
I  believe  he  has  done  his  whole  duty  as  a 
man/'  Under  the  nurture  of  such  a  mother, 
whom  he  always  cherished  with  the  fondest 
affection  and  who  happily  lived  to  see  him 
President,  he  learned  the  elemental  lessons  of 
piety  and  faith  and  duty,  and  in  his  heart 
were  early  implanted  the  enduring  principles  of 
conduct  and  the  fixed  sense  of  obedience  to 
obligation  which  ruled  his  whole  life. 

He  was  but  seventeen  when  the  shot  at 
Sumter  startled  the  feverish  land.  Its  crash 
roused  the  impassioned  people  to  a  sober  real- 
ization that  the  angry  strife  of  sections  had  at 
length  burst  into  a  war,  no  one  yet  dreamed 
how  mighty,  over  the  very  existence  of  the 
Union.  To  this  youth  of  conscience  and 
patriotic  fervor  the  call  of  his  country  was 
the    sufficient    command    of   duty.     He    enlisted 

35 


fin  fIDemoriam 

in  the  ranks  of  a  regiment  whose  muster  roll 
answered  with  the  names  of  two  future  Presi- 
dents, one  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and 
the  hero  of  Chickamauga.  Little  time  passed 
before  his  youthful  ardor  and  his  constant 
fidelity  had  won  the  confidence  and  admiration 
of  all*  He  shared  all  the  hardships  and  all  the 
glories  of  a  marching  and  fighting  command. 
He  slept  on  the  tented  field  under  the  Summer^s 
heat  and  the  Winter^s  snow*  He  kept  watch 
by  the  flickering  light  of  the  bivouac.  He 
followed  the  waving  plume  of  Sheridan  through 
the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah.  He  seemed  to 
bear  a  charmed  life  as,  with  bated  breath  of 
onlookers,  he  rode  along  perilous  ways  through 
the  storm  of  bullets  at  Kemstown.  He  earned 
his  first  promotion  by  his  gallant  behavior  on 
the  bloodiest  of  days  at  Antietam.  He  showed 
his  quality  when,  as  a  staff  officer,  he  took  the 
responsibility,  fortunately  justified  by  the  result, 
of  directing  a  general  of  division  at  a  vital 
point  in  the  battle  of  Opequan.  Had  he  been 
a  man  he  would  have  won  his  stars.  But 
even  as  a  boy,  as  a  boy  behind  the  gun,  he 
rose  to   the   rank   of   major,  and   came   out   of 

the    war    with    a    rich    and     stem    experience 

36 


•(imtlUam  riDclkinlep 

which  had  knit  and  strengthened  his  whole 
mental  and  moral  fiber.  Throwing  aside  his 
sword  he  immediately  addressed  himself  to  the 
serious  work  of  life.  He  b^an  the  study  of 
law  at  his  home  and  pursued  it  here  at  this 
capital,  in  a  law  school  celebrated  for  the  number 
of  men  it  has  contributed  to  the  successes  of  the 
profession  and  the  distinction  of  a  public  career. 
With  the  service  of  the  war  and  the  training 
of  school  behind  him  at  an  age  when  many 
men  of  promise  are  just  leaving  their  college 
course,  he  settled  down  at  Canton,  which  was 
thenceforth  to  be  the  home  of  his  love  and 
pride,  and  in  after  years  the  Mecca  of  the 
myriads  who  would  lay  their  homage  at  his 
sacred  shrine.  His  success  was  swift  and  cer- 
tain. His  incomparable  charm  of  manner  and 
beauty  of  character  made  friends  of  all  within 
his  range.  His  skill  and  ability  in  counsel  and 
in  speech  marked  him  for  sure  and  recognized 
leadership.  Within  three  years  he  was  chosen 
prosecuting  attorney,  and  in  J  876,  at  the  age  of 
33,  he  was  elected  to  Congress  and  entered  on 
his  extraordinary  political  career.  Thencefor- 
ward to  the  untimely  end  he  advanced  with  an 
unbroken  growth  and  a  widening  power  till  at 

37 


Hn  fIDemoriam 

last  he  stood  the  foremost  ruler  with  the 
broadest  influence  on  the  loftiest  pedestal  in 
the  world. 

The  House  of  Representatives  was  a  forum 
singularly  suited  to  his  powers*  It  is  a  field 
where  the  faculties  are  subjected  to  the  severest 
trial  and  where  merit  alone  can  win.  It  has  an 
atmosphere  and  a  standard  all  its  own.  Its  vast 
hall^  its  turbulent  roar,  its  intolerance  of  fustian  or 
of  feebleness,  its  quick  and  remorseless  detection 
of  sham  and  pretence,  all  impose  a  test  which 
nothing  but  substantial  ability  can  endure.  It 
must  be  conquered  or  captivated  or  gained 
through  its  sincere  respect.  It  enjoys  the 
barbed  shaft  of  sarcasm  which  pierces  the 
hollow  shell  of  cant  or  the  vivid  thunderbolt 
of  invective  which  blasts  the  hoary  forces  of 
wrong.  It  is  enthralled  under  the  magic  spell 
of  the  true  orator  who  sets  logic  on  fire  with 
passion  or  melts  the  cold  form  of  reason  with 
the  subdued  touch  of  tenderness.  It  appreciates 
the  comprehensive  knowledge  which,  without 
grace  or  adornment,  but  with  honesty  and 
understanding,  illuminates  legislation  and  points 
the  pathway  of  truth.  But  it  is  only  by 
masterfulness   in   one  form   or  another  that  its 

38 


Mllltam  riDclktnle^ 

attention  can  be  held  or  its  leadership  attained* 
For  this  arena  of  political  gladiators  the  earnest, 
painstaking  and  persuasive  McKinley  was 
admirably  fitted.  He  was  a  patient  worker, 
a  trenchant   debater  and   a   skillful  tactician. 

Joining  freely  in  the  conflicts  of  the  House, 
he  displayed  at  once  such  force  and  such 
chivalry  that  he  left  only  the  sense  of  a  foeman 
worthy  of  the  best  steel,  and  no  opponent 
was  envenomed  because  **  still  rankled  in  his 
side  the  fatal  dart/*  He  became  master  of  all 
the  moods  and  methods  of  the  House.  He 
had  in  his  own  knowledge  and  superb  tact 
the  clew  of  its  labyrinths,  and  he  could  guide 
through  their  most  tortuous  ways  as  surely  as 
Theseus  tracked  the  labyrinth  of  old  with  the 
thread  of  Ariadne.  During  the  fourteen  years 
of  his  service  he  steadily  grew  in  influence  and 
rank,  and  at  last  became  the  acknowledged 
leader  and  powerful  moulder  of  policies.  His 
conspicuous  championship  of  protection  led  to  a 
reproach  that  he  was  a  man  of  one  idea  — 
a  reproach  which  shriveled  and  faded  in  the 
grandeur  of  his  later  work,  but  never  just 
even  when  originally  made.  It  was  his  duty 
as  representative  to  deal  with  many  questions; 

39 


IFn  noemoriam 

as  Qiairman  of  the  Committee  on  Ways  and 
Means  and  leader  of  the  House  he  spoke  on  many- 
subjects^  and  he  never  spoke  save  to  illuminate* 
If  he  early  determined  to  choose  one  issue 
of  commanding  importance  and  make  himself 
master  of  that,  it  was  only  an  illustration  of 
his  native  sagacity  and  of  his  strong  conviction. 
In  devoting  himself  to  the  protection  of  home 
industries  be  became  the  chief  exponent  of  a 
policy  that  was  the  battle  gage  of  parties  and 
vitally  connected  with  the  welfare  of  the  people. 
The  McKinley  law  was  the  natural  evolution 
of  conditions;  but  it  bore  his  name  because  he 
had  early  foreseen  developments  and  put  himself 
in  line  to  seize  the  opportunity.  It  passed  only 
on  the  eve  of  the  Congressional  elections;  it 
had  no  adequate  trial;  there  was  no  time  for 
correct  understanding;  the  general  political  sky 
was  darkened  by  untoward  circumstances,  and 
all  the  threatening  signs  togetlier  brought  disaster. 
In  that  defeat  McKinley  went  down  for  the 
moment — due,  however,  more  to  the  change  of 
his  district  than  to  the  general  adverse  current. 
But  it  was  only  for  a  moment,  and  in  that 
mom.ent  of  darkness  his  conviction  and  his 
courage  blazed  like  an  oriflamme. 

40 


TOiUiam  flDclkinlc)? 

For,  though  many  doubted  and  hesitated, 
he  did  not  quiver!  In  that  hour  of  gloom  and 
storm  of  opposition  others  faltered,  but  McKinley 
never!  He  did  not  droop  his  banner  a  single 
inch,  but  held  it  aloft  with  unwavering  fidelity 
and   repledged   devotion. 

So  spake  the  seraph  Abdiel,  faithful  found 
Among  the  faithless,  faithful  only  he. 

His  trumpet  blast  soon  rallied  the  broken 
columns.  Every  circumstance  conspired  to 
vindicate  and  reestablish  him  more  strongly 
than  ever.  He  was  chosen  Governor  of  Ohio, 
The  McKinley  law  was  overthrown,  but 
depression  deepened  around  the  whole  horizon* 
Throughout  the  country  the  awakening  people 
began  to  call  for  the  rejected  leader.  The 
stone  which  the  builders  refused  became  the 
head  of  the  comer.  He  went  over  the  land 
and  across  the  continent,  and  his  engaging 
personality  and  rare  powers  of  oratory  won 
their  persuasive  way.  He  had  every  element 
of  popular  winsomeness.  A  face  of  sweetness 
and  light;  deep-set  and  piercing  eyes  under  a 
Websterian  brow;  a  personal  fascination  which 
took  hold  of  all  who  came  within  its  influence; 
a    voice     sympathetic,     resonant    and     full     of 

41 


fln  riDemoriam 

vibrant  melody;  a  style  of  limpid  clearness  and 
simplicity,  tipped  at  times  with  the  dr/ine  flame 
of  eloquence;  an  almost  unrivaled  power  of 
seizing  the  central  and  controlling  facts  and 
presenting  them  with  sharp,  luminous  and  con- 
vincing force;  the  allied  faculty  of  clarifying 
and  crystallizing  a  truth  or  an  argument  in  a 
phrase  or  an  epigram;  the  capacity  to  take  the 
tumbler  from  the  table  on  the  platform  and 
make  it  the  iflustration,  lucent  as  the  sunbeam, 
of  a  theory  or  a  policy  so  that  the  simplest 
child  could  understand  and  the  memory  carried 
it  forever ;  and  over  all  that  subtle  and  indescrib- 
able charm  of  sincerity  and  suavity  which  is 
irresistible — such  were  the  rare  attributes  which 
swayed  and  carried  vast  multitudes. 

He  thus  naturally  and  inevitably  became 
the  Presidential  candidate.  His  extraordinary 
campaign  was  to  many  of  his  countrymen  a 
revelation  of  unsuspected  versatility  and  resource. 
He  did  not  leave  his  home  for  any  tour,  but 
tens  of  thousands  went  to  him  in  multiplied 
delegations,  representing  every  guild  and  every 
interest;  and  he  welcomed  them  through  days 
and  weeks  and  months  of  hourly  speeches  so 
apt,  so  varied,  so  terse  and  cogent,  so  illustrative 

42 


MtlUam  riDclkinlei? 

and    suggestive,    that    they    not    only    baffled 
criticism   but   formed   the   impregnable   bulwark 
of    his    own    canvass*       His    championship    of 
protection    nominated    him*       But    events    had 
brought    the    currency    question    forward    to    a 
crucial   position*       On   this    question   there   had 
been  serious   differences  in   his  own  party,  and 
their  reconcilement  was   indispensable  to  united 
strength  and  sure  success*     McKinley^s  fidelity  to 
sound  currency  had  never  been  doubtful,  but  he 
was    subjected    to    some    reproach    because    he 
maintained  a  degree  of  reserve  while  the  process 
of  fusing  the  discordant  elements  was  going  on. 
It  was  an  exemplification  of  his  tactful  method  of 
accomplishing  a  great   end  through  conciliatory 
means*      Far  better  than  his  well-meaning  critics 
he    knew  that    a    serious    rupture    or    division 
would    be    fatal,    and    that    judicious    approach 
would   bring   a   satisfactory   alignment*      When 
his  policy  had  welded   the   party  together  and 
the  time  had   come,  he  spoke  in   clarion  tones 
and  his  leadership  on  the  later  of  the  two  great 
issues  was   as  vigorous  and  ringing  as  it   had 
always  been  on  the  earlier* 

His  first  act  as  President  attested  the  depth 
of  his  convictions  and  his  self-reliant  judgment* 

43 


Hn  flDemoriam 

He  instantly  recalled  Congress  and  the  country 
to  the  McKinley  policy!  There  had  been  a 
long  period  of  business  depression  and  stagnation. 
Men  might  differ  as  to  the  cause — the  President 
believed  he  knew  the  remedy.  It  was  the 
restoration  of  confidence  and  credit  and  enterprise 
which  would  again  set  the  wheels  of  industry 
in  motion.  Against  all  traditions,  with  the  self- 
confidence  of  profound  earnestness,  he  assembled 
Congress  in  extra  session;  he  invoked  its 
exclusive  devotion  to  the  single  object  of  its 
unusual  meeting;  and  before  the  first  summer 
of  his  administration  had  passed,  his  faith  and 
his  measures  had  started  the  country  on  a  new 
development  of  activity  which,  widening  and 
extending  as  it  advanced,  ushered  in  the  most 
splendid  era  of  industrial  growth  and  commercial 
expansion  the  world  has  ever  seen ! 

With  restored  prosperity  and  business  sta- 
bility thus  assured,  as  the  foundation  of  all 
advance,  he  was  ready  for  other  questions. 
The  long-smouldering  wrongs  of  Cuba,  now 
bursting  into  full  flame,  had  profoundly  stirred  the 
country.  The  American  people  could  no  longer 
silence  conscience  with  mere  protest.  Had  not 
Gladstone    thundered    against    the    atrocities    of 

44 


TOilUam  ni>c1kinlei5 

Bulgaria?  Had  not  the  Qiristian  world  held 
up  its  hands  in  impotent  horror  at  the  ghastly 
but  sporadic  infamies  in  Armenia?  But  these 
monstrous  wrongs  were  far  off*  The  continuous 
crimes  in  Cuba,  not  less  hideous  and  growing 
to  appalling  proportions,  were  at  our  very  door. 
How  could  the  impulse  of  humanity  or  the 
instinct  of  self-protection  look  on  in  passive 
abhorrence?  For  years  we  had  offered  verbal 
remonstrance  and  done  nothing.  The  time  had 
come  for  action.  The  cumulating  records  of 
cruelty  wrought  the  country  to  the  highest 
pitch  of  indignation.  In  the  midst  of  this 
swelling  tide  of  feeling  the  destruction  of  a 
battle-ship  in  the  harbor  of  Havana  and  the  loss 
of  two  hundred  and  fifty  brave  American  sailors 
inflamed  the  public  temper  to  white  heat,  and 
all  over  the  land  went  forth  the  ominous 
*^  Remember  the  Maine '/^  Everywhere — in 
Congress  and  in  the  country — the  cry  was  for 
war! 

No  one  who  did  not  see  the  President  at 
close  hand  during  those  stormy  and  trying  days 
could  measure  the  greatness  of  his  spirit  or  the 
courage  of  his  purpose.  Of  all  men  in  the  land 
he  was  the  coolest,  the  calmest  and  the  most 

45 


Hn  nDcmoriam 

clear-sighted.  Profoundly  moved,  anxious  beyond 
all  expression,  he  was,  with  his  waking  hours 
and  his  sleepless  couch  filled  with  brooding  care, 
but  tranquil,  self-contained,  sure  of  his  own  heart 
and  sure  of  his  own  lofty  and  unselfish  aim. 
It  were  easy  then  to  lead  the  way  in  the  passion 
for  war.  It  needed  only  to  ride  the  tempest 
and  be  borne  along  by  the  swift  and  turbid 
current.  There  was  everything  in  such  yielding 
complaisance  to  appeal  to  selfish  ambition.  War 
is  fuU  of  glory.  This  war  was  certain  to  be 
triumphant.  Success  in  war  is  the  sure  passport 
to  fame  and  power.  It  would  inevitably  bring 
enlarged  domain,  and  his  would  be  the  honor. 
Beyond  all,  this  was  a  war  with  a  righteous 
cause  and  a  just  object,  as  righteous  and  just 
as  ever  impelled  men  to  take  up  arms.  But 
there  was  another  side.  War  at  the  best 
has  its  costly  sacrifices.  It  makes  widows 
and  orphans;  it  brings  tears  to  the  eyes  of 
mothers,  and  fills  households  with  mourning. 
From  all  this  sadder  side  the  great  and  gentle 
soul  of  William  McKinley  recoiled.  Not  for 
him  the  pathway  of  personal  ambition  strewn 
with  the  bloody  sacrifices  of  his  people.  Not 
for    him     the    mingled     glory     and    misery    of 

46 


war,  however  just,  unless  it  were  made 
clear  that  its  rightful  and  necessary  purpose 
could  not  be  accomplished  through  peaceful 
measures. 

He  did  not  despair  of  such  a  pacific  and 
acceptable  solution.  In  his  purpose  of  rescuing 
Cuba  he  never  faltered.  In  more  sober  under- 
standing and  aim  he  shared  the  hot  determination 
of  the  country  that  the  intolerable  wrongs  in  the 
unhappy  isle  must  cease;  he  had  reiterated  the 
protests  of  other  Presidents,  and,  as  the  offenses 
grew,  had  gone  farther  in  action ;  but  he  still  hoped 
and  believed  that  the  redemption  could  be  effected 
without  the  dread  necessity  of  war.  With  this 
conviction  he  judiciously  moderated  and  restrained 
the  impetuous  ardor  of  Congress,  and,  man  of 
the  people  as  he  was,  stood  undaunted  while 
the  storm  of  popular  clamor  raged  about  him. 
The  world  does  not  yet  know  the  full  extent 
of  the  effort  he  made  to  save  Cuba  and  at  the 
same  time  avert  war.  For  sixty  days  he  held 
back  an  excited  and  impatient  country.  With 
one  hand  he  curbed  his  own  impulsive  people 
and  with  the  other  he  sought  to  lead  a  proud- 
spirited Power  up  to  such  concessions  as  would 
alone  render   peace   possible.      The   conscience, 

47 


11  n  riDemoriam 

the  courage  and  the  steadfastness  of  that  joint 
undertaking  cannot  easily  be  overstated*  It 
must  ever  rank  with  the  great  acts  of  moral 
heroism  among  the  rulers  of  men.  But  it  was 
not  met  with  the  same  ingenuous  spirit;  events 
outran  every  plan;  the  mighty  issues  hastened 
to  their  deadly  grapple,  and  the  war  was  on. 

Once  decreed,  it  was  fought  with  the  utmost 
vigor  and  power  as  the  most  humane  mandate. 
Our  arms  were  triumphant  on  sea  and  on 
land.  Our  navy,  always  great  in  action, 
repeated  and  added  fresh  lustre  to  its  earlier 
glories.  The  army  was  rapidly  organized,  and 
on  new  fields,  under  tropic  skies  with  unwonted 
experiences,  separated  by  half  the  girdle  of  the 
globe,  it  exhibited  the  eager  spirit  and  unquailing 
courage  of  the  American  soldier.  It  is  but  just 
to  say  that  not  only  in  the  general  direction,  but 
particularly  in  the  culminating  and  crucial  hour 
of  the  struggle,  when  large  consequences  hung 
on  grave  questions  in  the  field,  the  President 
was  literally  the  commander-in-chief;  and  when 
his  judgment  was  vindicated  by  the  result  of 
his  orders,  with  characteristic  generosity  he 
discountenanced  any  ascription  of  the  credit 
which  was   rightfully  his,  lest   it  might  in  the 

48 


MlUiam  riDclRinlei? 

slightest  degree  detract  from  the  well-won  laurels 
of  the  generals  he  delighted  to  honor,  A  hundred 
days,  forever  emblazoned  with  the  names  of 
Manila  and  Santiago,  closed  the  war  and  placed 
the  Republic  in  a  new  position  before  the  world. 
The  President  then  confronted  the  still  more 
difficult  problems  of  peace.  Under  the  conditions 
its  issues  were  more  completely  in  his  hands 
than  those  of  war.  It  was  for  him  to  decide 
the  terms  of  peace,  subject  to  the  final  ratification 
of  the  treaty,  and  with  the  reasonable  certainty 
that  the  terms  agreed  on  by  the  two  Governments 
and  formally  embodied  in  the  treaty  would, 
unless  clearly  repugnant  to  the  general  sense, 
be  accepted  in  the  end.  The  gravity  and  the 
magnitude  of  that  duty  are  manifest.  It  involved 
the  momentous  decision  of  the  character  and 
extent  of  the  territorial  acquisition  to  be  made. 
And  beyond  the  primary  question  of  expansion, 
it  involved  the  stupendous  problem  of  the  future 
disposition,  relations  and  government  of  the 
territory  thus   acquired. 

As  to  the  islands  of  the  Carribean  the 
course  was  clear,  Porto  Rico  was  plainly  to  be 
ceded  and  the  cession  was  granted  and  accepted 
with  little  dispute.       Cuba  was  to  be  made  free 

49 


■fln  fIDcmoriam 

under  the  guardianship  of  the  United  States 
until  prepared  for  full  independence.  But  what 
of  the  Philippines?  Was  our  flag  to  remain 
in  those  remote  seas  ?  Was  it  to  float  only 
over  a  naval  station  or  over  a  broader  area? 
If  we  were  to  gain  a  territorial  foothold^  was  the 
vast  archipelago  to  be  taken  in  part  or  in  whole? 
It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  the  answer  to 
that  tremendous  question,  with  all  its  import  for 
the  destiny  of  our  country,  rested  on  the  single 
voice  of  William  McKinley,  It  was  for  him  to 
make  the  first  guiding  determination,  and  he 
had  acquired  such  authority  with  the  people, 
such  general  confidence  was  felt  in  his  judgment, 
that  whether  the  conclusion  had  been  in  favor 
of  holding  on  or  of  letting  go  there  is  every 
reason  to  believe  that  in  the  plastic  and  formative 
stage  of  public  opinion  then  his  decision  would 
have  been  accepted. 

It  is  difficult  to  recall  another  time  in 
all  our  history  since  the  organization  of  the 
Government  when  a  decision  of  such  preg- 
nant and  far-reaching  consequences  rested  in 
the  hollow  of  a  single  hand  save  once.  In 
Washington's  second  administration  the  new- 
born   nation   was   in   a   fever   of    tumult    from 

50 


TOilllam  fIDclkinlei? 

the  infection  of  the  French  Revolution*      France 

had    been    our    afly   in   our    own    struggle   for 

liberty.     She  was  now  with  ensanguined  banner 

proclaiming  the  new  crusade  of   the   **  rights  of 

man/*      Jefferson    had   returned    from    her   soil 

imbued    with    her    extreme    ideas.      He    found 

a    young    and    ardent    people    all    aflame    with 

enthusiasm    for   the   tricolor   and    burning   with 

passion  against  a  recent  and  still  unfriendly  foe. 

Clubs  sprang  into  being  all  over  the  land  with 

the  cockade  on  their  hats  and  the  cry  of  fraternity 

on  their  lips.       The  British  Orders  in  GDuncil 

intensified  the  public  feeling.     Congress  answered 

with  the  embargo  act  and  began  to  prepare  for 

war.      Had  there  been  any  leader  at  the  head 

of    the   State   less   wise   and   commanding  than 

Washington,  the  nation,  still  in  its  infancy  and 

still   enfeebled  with   its   exhausting    r*  aggie   for 

independence,  would  have  madly  taken  up  arms 

again.       But  the  equipoise  and  authority  of  the 

peerless    chief    stayed    the    uplifted    arm,    sent 

John   Jay   to   London   on   a   special  mission   of 

peace,  carried  against  violent  opposition  a  treaty 

unpopular  but  vindicated  by  time,  and  successfully 

piloted  the  Republic  through  a  crisis  of  difficulty 

and  danger. 

5J 


f  rt  (TDemoriam 

There  have  been  other  times  when  great 
decisions  were  taken,  but  it  is  doubtful  whether 
there  has  been  another  time  save  that  now  in 
question,  when  so  much  depended  on  the  single 
act  of  one  man,  unless,  to  name  an  instance  of 
a  different  kind,  we  except  the  act  of  John  Adams 
in  appointing  John  Marshall  Chief  Justice  of  the 
United  States.  President  McKinley  did  not  fail 
to  appreciate  the  importance  and  the  gravity  of 
the  question  which  practically  rested  on  his  sole 
determination.  He  saw,  no  one  better,  that  the 
acquisition  of  extended  territory  and  alien  peoples 
in  remote  climes  would  be  a  new  departure  for 
the  Republic  and  entail  problems  of  government 
of  the  most  delicate  and  complex  character*  He 
saw,  on  the  other  hand,  no  one  more  clearly, 
that  the  withdrawal  of  American  authority  and 
care,  when  other  authority  and  care  had  been 
extinguished,  would  leave  an  unprepared  people 
in  a  helpless  condition  and  would  be  a  desertion 
of  a  solemn  obligation  which  events  had  imposed 
upon  us» 

In  this  conflict  of  opposing  views  he  had 
no  real  guide  but  his  own  sure  instinct  and  his 
own  sense  of  duty*  He  had  his  counselors  in 
Cabinet,  in  Congress  and  in  Peace  Commission, 

52 


ratlliam  fIDclkiulei? 

but  the  ultimate  responsibility  was  his*  Did  he 
ask  public  opinion? — but  public  opinion  waited 
for  him.  It  was  a  decision  for  the  solitude  and 
meditation  of  the  statesman's  closet,  and  there 
he  took  it  for  self-communion  and  for  the  higher 
communion  with  the  Giver  of  All  Wisdom,  who 
was  his  daily  guide  and  ever-present  help  in 
time  of  trouble.  In  reaching  his  conclusion 
there  was  one  controlling  force.  He  was  not 
blind  to  the  commercial  opportunities  which  had 
been  suddenly  unveiled.  With  the  prophetic 
eye  of  faith  he  could  discern  in  the  coming 
years  the  argosies  of  treasure  which  through 
the  opening  of  the  Orient  would  expand  and 
enrich  American  trade.  But  deeply  interested 
as  he  was  in  this  development,  it  was  not 
the  animating  impulse  of  his  action.  The  one 
overmastering  influence  in  deciding  his  course 
was  not  the  spirit  of  territorial  aggrandizement, 
not  the  acceptance  of  commercial  opportunity, 
but  his  profound  conviction  of  duty  to  the  rude 
peoples  whom  the  course  of  events  had  placed 
in  our  keeping.  He  felt  that  to  abandon  them 
under  such  circumstances  would  be  recreancy  to 
a  sacred  trust.  With  his  robust  Americanism 
he  believed   that  American   free   institutions   are 

53 


Iln  nDemoriam 

the  best  in  the  worlds  and  he  could  not  conceive 
that  the  freedom  and  hope  of  our  flag  would 
be  anything  else  than  a  blessing  to  the  peoples 
who  should  come  under  the  protection  and  the 
inspiration  of  its  shining  folds. 

His,  then,  was  the  authority,  his  the  responsi- 
bility, his  the  decision  in  what,  let  us  fufly 
recognize  it,  was  a  turning  point  in  American 
history  and  a  new  epoch  in  the  course  of 
civilization.  If  there  had  been  nothing  else, 
this  great  act  alone  was  sufficient  to  give  him 
a  sure  niche  in  the  Temple  of  Fame*  We  do 
not  undertake  to  pass  upon  the  questions  of 
the  future;  but  whatever  may  be  its  course  it 
is  certain  that  the  freedom  which  has  spread  its 
glorious  light  in  the  Philippine  Islands  can  never 
be  dimmed.  The  Filipinos,  now  rescued,  may 
well  say,  with  the  hero  of  Italy,  **  We  had  rather 
take  one  step  forward  and  die,  than  one  step 
backward  and  live.^*  It  was  William  McKinley 
who  lifted  them  out  of  the  thraldom  and  darkness 
of  three  hundred  years  into  the  liberty  and 
enlightenment  of  the  twentieth  century;  and, 
whatever  the  vicissitudes  of  circumstance,  it  is 
sure  that  in  the  coming  time  the  millions  of 
dark-visaged   and   disenthralled  people  and   their 

54 


TOilUam  flDclkinlc^ 

tens  of  millions  of  descendants  will  recogiiize 
him  as  the  blacks  of  America  recognize  Lincoln, 
and  that  not  only  in  the  stately  squares  of 
Manila,  but  in  the  remoter  provinces  of  Luzon 
and  among  the  dusky  Viscayans  of  Cebu  and 
Samar,  then  advanced  in  civilization,  will  be 
found  rising  in  honor  the  worthy  monuments 
of  bronze  or  of  granite,  with  the  benignant  face 
and  figure  so  well  known  to  us,  which  shall 
commemorate  the  great  Liberator. 

The  first  summer  of  the  President  had 
been  given  to  the  restoration  of  the  conditions 
of  prosperity;  the  second  to  the  war  with  Spain; 
the  third  to  the  insurrectionary  troubles  in  the 
Philippines;  and  the  fourth,  the  year  of  his 
campaign  for  re-election,  was  absorbed  with  the 
sudden  and  appalling  outbreak  in  China.  That 
startling  assault  on  civilization  served  to  show 
that  the  United  States  had  taken  its  place  at  the 
council  table  of  the  nations*  The  establishment 
of  our  authority  in  the  East  gave  us  a  recognized 
voice  in  dealing  with  the  issues  of  the  great 
Eastern  Empire ;  the  presence  of  our  forces  in  the 
Philippines  permitted  the  quick  transfer  of  a  fair 
contingent  to  the  new  scene  of  action.  We  were 
there  by  right,  and  we  were  there  with  visible 

55 


II  n  nDemoriam 

strength.  In  facing  this  trying  and  unforeseen 
exigency,  for  which  there  was  no  precedent 
and  no  guide,  the  President  evinced  the  easy 
assumption  of  responsibility  and  direction  to 
which  the  large  experience  of  four  years,  with 
the  preparation  of  twenty  years  behind  it,  had 
brought  him.  Under  his  guidance  the  United 
States  proceeded  without  hesitation  and  without 
truculence,  acting  with  other  nations  when  their 
policy  suited  it,  asserting  its  independent  judgment 
when  occasion  required  it,  entangling  itself  with 
none  and  friendly  with  all. 

In  two  directions  at  least  the  United  States 
took  the  distinct  lead.  It  was  foremost  in 
insisting  that,  despite  the  furious  fighting  and 
the  dreadful  conditions  at  Peking,  there  was  not 
a  state  of  war,  and  thus  in  localizing  the  conflict. 
It  was  no  less  strenuous  in  upholding  the  integrity 
of  the  Empire  and  in  moderating  the  terms  of 
settlement.  Whatever  differences  may  remain 
on  controverted  questions  there  is  universal 
concurrence  that  our  Government  handled  the 
Chinese  complication  in  a  masterful  and  faultless 
manner,  and  emerged  from  the  arduous  ordeal 
with  increased  prestige  and  influence  throughout 
the  worlds 

56 


Milliam  fB>c1kinle)? 

At  last  it  seemed  that  for  the  President  a 
time  of  tranquillity  and  measurable  repose  and 
well-earned  enjoyment  of  his  great  honors  had 
come*  He  had  been  re-elected  with  every  mark 
of  the  high  confidence  of  his  countrymen.  His 
great  achievements  were  secure,  and  his  fixed  and 
well-defined  policies  remained  only  to  be  fulfilled 
on  the  lines  he  had  clearly  traced.  He  had 
solved  and  clarified  the  intricacies  of  the  Cuban 
maze  with  a  chart  and  charter  which  determined 
the  future,  and  to  which,  without  debate  and 
without  opposition,  he  had  pledged  both  parties 
in  Congress  with  a  consummate  adroitness  and 
skill  never  surpassed  in  all  our  legislative  history. 
With  a  sincere  and  profound  devotion  to  American 
traditions  and  with  a  directness  which  admitted 
of  no  question,  he  had  stilled  the  rising  sentiment 
for  a  third  term.  He  had  with  his  noble 
magnanimity  and  wisdom  assuaged  the  strife  of 
sections,  and  brought  North  and  South  together 
in  such  fraternal  concord  as  they  had  not  felt 
since  they  shed  their  blood  side  by  side  at 
Bunker  Hill  and  Yorktown,  With  high  hope 
and  exultant  joy  he  had  traversed  the  continent 
amid  the  acclaims  of  an  enthusiastic  people. 
There  on  the  further  shore,  looking  out  through 

57 


II II  (IDemoriam 

the  Golden  Gate  on  the  great  ocean  which  his 
work  had  made  an  American  sea,  he  was  called 
to  his  deepest  trial,  as  day  after  day  and  night 
after  night  he  trod  the  hazy  and  mysterious 
borderland  of  eternity  with  the  tender  companion 
of  his  chivalrous  and  matchless  devotion,  while  the 
whole  nation,  with  hushed  breath  and  affectionate 
sympathy  and  constant  prayer,  followed  him  in 
his  long  and  loving  vigil*  Again  alone  in  his 
never-ceasing  faith,  his  cup  of  joy  was  again  filled 
to  overflowing  as  the  frail  thread  strengthened 
into  the  silken  cord,  and  thenceforward  the  sun 
shone  with  new  radiance  for  him  as,  after  the 
splendor  and  stress  and  cloud,  it  approached  the 
mellow  sweetness  of  promised  peace  and  rest* 
He  went  to  Buffalo,  and  amid  the  brilliant 
surroundings  of  its  beautiful  Exposition  he  made 
the  impressive  speech  which,  in  its  elevation  of 
spirit,  in  its  clearness  of  vision  and  in  its  breadth 
of  statesmanship,  is  his  fit  legacy  to  the  American 
people.  He  had  renounced  no  article  of  his 
life-long  creed*  He  only  saw  the  consummation 
of  the  policy  he  had  sustained,  only  the  expected 
results  he  had  done  his  part  in  bringing  about* 
In  his  view  reciprocity  was  but  the  ripened 
fruitage  of  the  harvest  of  protection,  and  when 

58 


Milliam  riDclkinlci? 

his  unfaltering  faith  and  patient  labor  were 
rewarded  by  seeing  his  country  in  full  command 
of  her  own  unequalled  market,  his  hopes  and 
aspirations  naturally  reached  out  to  the  extension 
of  her  sceptre  in  the  exchanges  of  the  world* 

His  fate  on  the  day  following  this  final 
speech  gave  it  a  sanctity  commensurate  with 
its  significance.  If  he  was  great  in  life  he  was 
sublime  in  death*  The  cruel  shot  rang  with 
horror  around  the  world*  His  country  and  all 
mankind  followed  the  changing  aspects  with 
alternations  of  high  hope  and  of  deepest  gloom. 
But  through  all  the  fluctuations  of  that  anguishing 
week,  whether  encouraged  by  the  highest  human 
skill  or  looking  through  the  open  portal  to  the 
eternal  morn,  he  and  he  alone  waited  with 
unquailing  spirit,  with  serene  patience  and  with 
crowning  trust.  In  that  hour  he  rose  to  his  full 
height.  What  a  noble  exhibition  of  a  God-Hke 
nature!  Would  you  know  his  generosity? — 
recall  his  words  as  he  looked  upon  the  miscreant, 
^^Don^t  let  them  hurt  him.*^  Would  you  under- 
stand his  thoughtful  chivalry? — remember  his 
immediate  admonition,  **Do  not  let  them  alarm 
my  wife.^*  Would  you  appreciate  his  considerate 
courtesy? — turn  to  his  fine  sense,  *^I  am  sorry 

59 


Hn  flDemoriam 

that  the  Exposition  has  been  shadowed.*'  Would 
you  measure  his  moral  grandeur? — dwell  upon 
that  final  utterance  of  sublime  submission,  ^^It  is 
God's  way ;  His  will,  not  ours,  be  done/' 

If  I  may  return  for  a  moment  to  Motley's 
delineation  of  William  of  Orange,  he  portrays 
that  great  leader  as  "certainly  possessed  of 
perfect  courage  at  last/'  The  fibre  of  William 
McKinley,  gentle  and  supple  in  its  nature,  was 
developed  by  experience  and  trial  into  a  sinewy 
and  scathless  strength.  He  was  called  amiable, 
but  when  in  the  discussion  of  the  terms  of  the 
Protocol,  conducted  by  himself,  a  suggestion  was 
made  of  his  proverbial  amiability,  the  French 
Ambassador  quickly  answered,  "Mr.  President, 
you  arc  as  firm  as  a  rock."  He  could  and  did 
deliberate  when  time  permitted,  and  when  decision 
was  required  he  could  decide  with  lightning 
flash.  If  he  "kept  his  ear  to  the  ground,"  as 
the  phrase  went,  it  was  not  only  to  hear  but 
to  know  how  to  guide — it  was  not  to  listen 
to  command,  but  to  understand  how  to  lead. 
He  appreciated  with  Edmund  Burke  that  "he 
who  would  lead  must  sometimes  follow,"  and 
sometimes  when  he  seemed  to  follow  he  had  so 
dexterously  prepared  the  way  that  in  reality  he 

60 


IKHtlliam  flDclklnlci? 

led*  He  incarnated  the  instincts  of  the  people 
and  refined  them  to  their  best  expression*  He 
firmly  trod  the  earth  while  his  spirit  soared  to 
the  skies*  He  was  great  in  deeds  and  great 
in  speech^  for  his  deeds  shaped  history  and  his 
words  swayed  the  minds  and  the  hearts  of  men* 
From  the  beginning  of  his  career  he  constantly 
advanced  in  public  esteem,  and  as  steadily  grew 
in  wisdom  for  the  successive  emergencies  and 
problems  which  confronted  him. 

There  are  three  distinct  and  transcendent 
epochs  in  the  development  of  the  American  nation 
— epochs  unlike  any  others  and  in  importance 
and  determining  influence  far  overshadowing 
all  other  parts  of  our  history*  First  is  the 
creating  period ;  second,  the  redeeming  period, 
and  third,  the  expanding  period*  Each  of 
these  moulding  periods  had  its  great  leader 
rising  above  all  others,  divinely  endowed  and 
divinely  cafled  for  its  needs  and  its  mission* 

The  revolutionary  and  constructive  period 
was  resplendent  with  a  matchless  group  of 
extraordinary  men*  Hamilton  had  consum- 
mate creative  genius  and  insight ;  Jefferson 
had  unrivaled  political  instinct  and  mastery; 
Adams     had     fervid     eloquence     and     intrepid 

6i 


•Rn  nDcmoriam 

faith;  Franklin  had  philosophic  penetration  and 
grasp;  Madison  had  practical  skill  and  sure 
judgment;  Jay  had  lofty  purity  and  elevation  of 
soul  But  great  as  they  were  in  their  individual 
and  their  united  strength,  they  all  bowed  to  the 
unquestioned  ascendancy  of  the  overtowering 
chief,  whose  awe-inspiring  personality  dominated 
every  council,  whose  lofty  wisdom  guided  every 
policy  and  whose  majestic  character  was  the 
rock  of  the  national  faith. 

In  the  same  way  the  redeeming  period  pre- 
sented a  brilliant  galaxy»  There  was  Seward, 
with  his  long  leadership,  his  acute  vision  and 
his  trained  statecraft;  there  was  Chase,  with 
his  robust  vigor  and  his  eager  ambition ;  there 
was  Stanton,  with  his  impetuous  ardor  and 
tireless  energy  and  organizing  genius;  there 
was  Sumner,  with  his  proud  and  conscious 
scholarship,  his  impatient  intensity  and  his  moral 
force;  there  was  Douglas,  who  was  the  Rupert 
of  debate  and  the  stormy  petrel  of  our  most 
turbulent  politics;  there  was  Grant,  with  his 
conquering  sword  in  the  field,  and  Stevens,  with 
his  flaming  tongue  in  the  forum.  But  out  of 
the  West,  untrained  except  in  the  clash  of  stump 
debate,   untutored    save    in    the    self-communion 

62 


MilUam  riDcminlei? 

of  his  own  great  soul,  came  the  God-given 
chieftain  to  whom  the  acknowledged  princes  of 
statesmanship  and  oratory  were  fain  to  yield  the 
sceptre  of  unchallenged  leadership,  and  whose 
indomitable  faith  and  exalted  inspiration  and 
heroic  devotion  and  almost  divine  prescience 
through  the  mighty  struggle  for  the  Union  have 
not  been  surpassed  in  all  the  long  and  glowing 
story  of  liberty's  march  and  humanity's  progress. 
And  so  in  the  expanding  period,  the  halo 
of  which  is  still  over  us,  there  have  been  strong 
leaders  in  the  council  and  in  the  forum;  but 
towering  over  all  was  the  paramount  figure  who 
will  ever  stand  out  as  the  dominant  influence 
of  this  epoch  of  our  national  history.  He  was 
supreme  in  moral  greatness.  He  was  foremost 
not  simply  because  he  was  the  titular  chief  but 
because  in  clear  insight,  in  sure  judgment,  in 
the  consummate  faculty  of  knowing  what  to  do 
and  how  to  do  it,  he  was  the  undisputed  master 
of  all.  The  preeminence  of  his  political  genius 
was  universally  recognized.  He  lived  at  a  time 
when  in  its  onward  development  it  was  his 
fortune  to  lead  the  Republic  to  the  attainment 
of  its  material  independence  and  power;  and 
then  when  that  policy  had   reached  its   fruition 

63 


1!n  noemorlam 

it  was  no  less  his  good  fortune  to  lead  it  along 
the  new  pathways  of  greatness  and  glory* 
If  his  work  was  not  finished,  it  was  so  far 
advanced  and  so  well  marked  out  that  it  only 
remains  to  follow  the  course  he  blazed*  His 
achievements  are  sure  and  his  impress  on  the 
age  is  indelible*  We  feel  our  personal  loss; 
the  Republic  mourns  the  President  best  beloved 
of  all  while  he  lived;  but  for  him  history  is 
perfect,  and  the  flawless  pages  of  immortality 
arc  opened  to  be  marred  never  more! 


0 


64 


William  flDclkinlei? 

In  Senate,  March  5,  1902 

R»    GRADY    dieted     the    following 
resolution : 

Resolved  (the  Assembly  concur- 
ring), That  the  sincere  thanks  of  the  Legislature 
of  the  State  of  New  York  are  tendered  to  the 
Hon*  Charles  Emory  Smith  for  his  masterly 
address  and  graceful  and  appropriate  tribute  to 
the  personal  virtues  and  great  public  services  of 
the  late  President,  William  McKinley,  at  the 
Legislative  memorial  exercises,  held  at  the  State 
Capitol  on  the  evening  of  March  4,  J  902* 

The  President  put  the  question  whether  the 
Senate  would  agree  to  said  resolution,  and  it 
was  decided  in  the  affirmative. 

Ordered,  That  Clerk  deliver  said  resolution 
to  the  Assembly  and  request  their  concurrence 
therein. 

The  Assembly  returned  the  above  resolution, 
with  a  message  that  the  Assembly  have  con- 
curred in  the  passage  of  the  same* 


65 


Hn  flDemoriam 

In  Assembly,  March  5,  1902 

Mr.  Palmer  offered  for  the  consideration  of 
the  House  a  resolution^  in  the  words  following: 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Assembly 
be  extended  to  Superintendent  of  Public  Buildings, 
H»  H»  Bender,  for  the  splendid  decoration  of  the 
Assembly  Qiamber  for  the  McKinley  memorial 
exercises. 

Mr.  Speaker  put  the  question  whether  the 
House  would  agree  to  said  resolution,  and  it 
was  determined  in  the  affirmative^ 


& 


66 


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